Title: Homoeopathy and Minerals
Author: Jan Scholten
Publishers: Homoeopathic
Medical Publishers
20, Station Road,
Santacruz (W),
Bombay - 400 054.
Price: Rs. 250/- Pages - 295
Edition: 1993 (Special Edition for sale in Asia only)

Jan Scholten presents a new system for the study of mineral remedies. He gives an analysis of composites which are clinically related. He discussed the basic remedies - first the cations - calcium, magnesium, Kalis, natrums; carbon elements and carbonicums separately along with muriaticum, sulphuricums and phosphoricums. So he first defines the separate elements and then goes on to understand the dynamic interaction of these elements within their different composite states like Calcarea-carb, Mag-c, Nat-c, Calc-mur, Mag-mur, Kali-mur, Natrum-mur, Mag-mur, Kali-mur, Natrum-mur, Calc-sulph, Mag-sulph, Kali-sulph, Natrum-sulph, Calc-phos, Mag-phos, Kali-phos, Natrum-phos; the Baryta, Bar-c, Bar-m, Bar-sul, Baryta-phos; the Acids, Sulph-ac, Phos-ac, Amm-arb, Amm-m, Amm-sul, Amm-ph, Nitric-ac, Calc-nit, Kali-nitr, Natrum-nitricum, Barium-n it, the Fluoratum-alc-fluor, Mag-fluor, Kali-flour; the Bromiums-Calc-brom, Mag-brom, Kali-brom; the Iodatum-Mag-iod, Kali-iod, Natrum-iod; metals; the Ferrum group, Vanadium, Kali-bi, Chromium metallicum, Manganum, Cuprums. Groups of remedies which contain the same element compared and the common themes are extracted. Afterwards the core is used to study the various remedies which contain the element. The theme of a group of remedies is studied. The author proves with examples and cases that once the central theme of the elements is known, it is possible to deduct the theme of the combination remedy. Take for example - Natrum-carb, its theme is feeling alone - the essence of Natrum and dignity from carbonicum which gives us the essence of Natrum-carb being - asking to be alone in his dignity.

Group analysis may help in developing a remedy picture at a metaphysical or abstract level; Keeping in view the basic characteristics of the constituent elements may help predict the picture of a totally unknown remedy like Magnesium-iod. The essence of Magnesium is pacifism, aggression, fear of loss, pain while the essence of Iodatum is food, work, busy, restless, freedom of movement, forgetful, obsessive, fight for existence, escape. If we apply the group analysis to Magnesium-iodatum we get the following theme - they have to fight for their existence. They are easily irritated when people come too close or hinder them. They also have an aversion to quarrels and anger.

Another example - Kali-nitricum consists of Kalium and Nitricum. According to Dr. Jan Scholten, Kalium has a) principle Duty, b) Closed c) Optimism d) Work and e) Family; while Nitricum has its characteristics a) Enjoyment b) needing space, expansion c) going out d) Congestion, explosive e) tension f) relaxation.

The theme which thus emerges in Kali-nitricum is "do your duty in order to be able to enjoy yourself". A feeling that you cannot enjoy unless you have performed your duty is strong. Hence Kali-nitricum works with pleasure but is not a workaholic slogging for 16 hours a day. He allots time for enjoyment.

CASE :

A man aged 60, sought treatment for weakness of his legs. After walking every 100 meters his legs went numb and he had to stop walking. He had a sensation of tightening and coldness worse in cold and damp weather.

There was also burning pain in stomach since 20 years, worse by drinking brandy, green pepper, cabbage, spicy food or beef. The complaints start usually at 2 or 3 a.m. The complaints come on after tension and stress at work.

Past history of frequent colds, mild heart attack etc.
Desires sweets (3), Games (3) fish, veal, bacon
Worse by smoking (2) and alcohol.

He was a nervous and an intense person very precise in his work, worked hard. Short tempered if people working under him were lazy or came late for work. He was relaxed by playing the piano.

Analysis - Though he had many symptoms of Nux-vomica, Kali elements like worse at 2 a.m. or 3 a.m. and in cold weather, desire for sweets are strong. A keynote of Kali-nitricum is worse after veal. Here the patient desired for veal and worse from beef. The two strong features of a sense of duty of Kaliums and desire to enjoy life of nitricums are present. Earlier prescriptions of Nux-vom and Kali-bich (because of the pain in one spot) did not act. After administering Kali-nit the complaints improved gradually upto 80 percent.

Definitely a text offering a different perspective to understanding of a remedy picture. The book has a good getup and readable print.

The lucid, unambiguous language, simple but brief outline of the mental essence of each remedy and case illustrations will make us want to experiment and use the approaches outlined in the book in practice for curing certain cases hitherto not responding to our usual approach.

The most valuable of all talents is that of never using two words when one will do.